Increasing Number of Illegal Migrants Creates Fear and Calls for Stricter Border Controls in Southern Slovak Village

Residents of Chlaba, a small border village in southern Slovakia, have reported an increase in the number of illegal migrants crossing through their community from neighboring Hungary. These migrants, typically arriving by night, are not intending to stay in Slovakia but are using the country as a transit point on their way to Germany. The situation has caused anxiety among locals and sparked calls for tighter border controls in Slovakia, particularly as the country prepares for an election on September 30th. While no criminal incidents involving the migrants have been reported by residents, there is a sense of fear among the community, with people feeling scared to walk in the streets.

The influx of migrants has prompted calls for stricter checks and verification processes to determine whether these individuals truly qualify as refugees fleeing their home countries. A recent poll conducted by the AKO agency revealed that approximately three-quarters of Slovaks support a government that would tighten rules against illegal migration. Former Prime Minister Robert Fico's SMER-SSD party, campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform, has urged the government to suspend the Schengen 'open border' rules and reintroduce passport checks on the Hungarian border. Fico claims that the current government allows illegal migrants to enter Slovakia without any documentation or background checks.

Although the Slovak government argues that it is virtually impossible to completely seal off the 655-kilometer border with Hungary, they have increased police presence and recently deployed 500 soldiers to assist in border patrol and security maintenance. The number of illegal migrants detained in Slovakia has risen significantly this year, reaching over 27,000, marking a ninefold increase from the previous year. Migrants primarily come from Middle Eastern and Afghan countries and have been utilizing the so-called Balkan route to enter Hungary from Serbia.

Despite Hungary's efforts to fortify its southern border with a steel fence, illegal migrant crossings have been on the rise. Migrants who manage to evade border defense in Hungary often cross into Slovakia on their way to other European countries. Slovak police patrols have been cooperating with their Hungarian counterparts to apprehend smugglers, but these efforts have proven to be of little deterrent. The situation highlights the challenges faced by both Slovakia and Hungary in managing their borders and the appeal of the Slovak route for migrants seeking entry into Western Europe.

The ability for Syrian and Afghan refugees to register under Slovak law, which prevents their deportation from the European Union, has made Slovakia an attractive stop on their journey to Germany. Authorities in Slovakia view this phenomenon as an administrative issue, though it has prompted calls for increased oversight and security measures. The issue of illegal migration is expected to be a key concern for voters in the upcoming Slovak parliamentary election.